Friday, December 12, 2008

19.30 Borussia Dortmund v Borussia Monchengladbach, Bundesliga, Setanta Sports 1A tough trip for 'Gladbach - BVB are undefeated at home this season. However, they have drawn six out of those eight games and the visitors will more than happy with a point at this stage.

Saturday 13 December

12.30 Dundee United v Rangers, Scottish Premier League, Setanta Sports 1A chance for United to cut the gap to seven points between second and third. Rangers have only won once here in the past five years.

12.45 Middlesbrough v Arsenal, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1This fixture has become a stumbling block for Arsene Wenger's men in recent seasons. The thought of the Riverside being a bogey ground should give a bit of confidence to Boro after a string of disappointing results.

17.20 Preston North End v Birmingham City, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1Preston are improving and will be certain for the play offs if they can sort out their away form. Good job they're at home here, having won five of their last six at Deepdale. They should give a good account of themselves against The Blues.

17.30 Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United, Premier League, Setanta Sports 1Tottenham are frankly useless against Manchester United. Last season's draw ended a run of six consecutive wins at White Hart Lane for United. Victory for 'Arry here really would make him a miracle worker.

20.00 Rennes v FC Nantes, Ligue 1, Setanta Sports 2Ordinarily this fixture wouldn't get us too excited, but Rennes are third in the table at the moment and lowly Nantes will be bubbling over following Ivan Klasnic's late penalty winner against the mighty Lyon last week. That said though, the game to watch this evening has to be...

11.30 Vitesse v PSV, Eredivisie, Setanta Sports 2Tough times for Vitesse, after 50 years in the top flight of Dutch football they could be going down this season. In recent years, the club could have gone bust were it not for a bail out from the local council. PSV haven't exactly been electric this season with teams like Twente, AZ and NAC shaking up the top positions from the old familiar teams, but the Eindhoven side shouldn't have much trouble here.

13.30 Portsmouth v Newcastle United, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1The jury is still out on both managers in this fixture. Both teams go into this with very similar form so it could easily go either way.

16.00 Hoffenheim v Schalke, Bundesliga, Setanta Sports 1Duffman had a feeling that Schalke will take this one, in his increasingly forward looking Bundesbag this week. I wouldn't presume to debate him on this matter. The Bundesliga goes into hibernation this weekend, awakening at the end of January - an excellent match to mark the end to the first half of an intriguing season.

16.00 Chelsea v West Ham United, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1Apparently, if matches finished at half time, West Ham would be fourth in the table - Chelsea would be top. Chelsea are on a run of six wins against the Hammers. It probably won't end here.

19.00 Sevilla v Villarreal, La Liga, Sky Sports 1 (2nd half only)Fourth plays second. Bit of a cock up on the scheduling front, it seems, as we only get half of this tasty tie but get all of...